Ball-and-socket joint



I. D. SHAW.

BALL AND SOCKET JOINT.

APPLICATloN man AuG.13,1021.

Patenfdept. A29 31922.

Patentes-sept. i2, i922.

Unirse stares TENT IRA D. SHAW, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

natnannlsocnn'r JOINT.

Application led August 13, 1921. Serial No. 492,045.

To all to hom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IRA D. SHAW, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State member is socketed to turn between bearings contained within the socket member.

The essential object of my invention is to locate the ball within the socket member against possibility of accidental displacement.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means whereby the j oint may be oiled from one end of the casmg upon depressing one of the bearings retaining the ball.

The-invention can best be seen and under stood by reference to the drawings, in

which- U Figure 1 shows the improved Joint 1n side elevation.

Figure v2 shows the ball member 1n side elevation and the socket member and contained parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the joint, and

Fig. 4 is a plan of the ball member w1th the socket member in section.

Referring to the drawings The joint consists of ball and socket members 1 and 2, respectively.

The ball member comprises an externally threaded attachable shank portion 3 carrying a ball 4. The member is also provided with a shoulder 5 by which the member may be turned.

The socket member 2 comprises a hollow casing 6 provided with a contracted inter.- nally threaded attachable end portion 7. The portion of the casing thus contracted leaves a shoulder 8 within the casing. lThe casing is provided on one side with an opening 9 through which the ball is inserted to lie within the casing. IVhen thus contained the ball is socketcd to turn between bearings l0 and 11, respectively, located within the casing. @f these bearings the bearing 10 closes the end of the casing opposite the attachable portion 7 thereof and the bearing ing,

is held in place `against out-ward displacement by a flange 12 inturned from oft` the end of the casing. In practice the outer end of the bearing-is preferably provided with a beveled edge 13 and the flange 12 overlaps this edge. The bearing 11 is backed by a coiled spring 14 interposed between the bearing and the shoulder 8 within t-he casing. The tension of the spring acts to hold the bearing 11 in engagement with the ball and the ball in engagement with the bearing 10 retained by the flange as aforesaid.

Thus contained the ball is retained against possibility of accidental displacement. In this connection I prefer that when the bearing 10 is engaging the flange 12 it shall have such extension inside the casing that the ball c annot be withdrawn outwardly by it through the opening 9, even though theI bearing 11 be depressed through downward pressure applied tot-he ball.

With the above construction the joint may be readily lubricated from the end of the casing upon depressing the bearing 10, all the contained parts yielding to such pressure. through contraction of the spring 14. When the bearing 10 is thus depressed oil deposited in the cup thus left in the head of the casing will How downwardly around the bearing between it and the wall of the casing in sufficient quantity to lubricate the joint.

Having thus ,fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a ball and socket joint, a ball member comprising an attachable shank, a ball carried by it, a socket member comprising an attachable casing having a side opening in it through which the ball is inserted to become socketed within the casand bearings oppositely arranged within the casing between which the ball is socketed to turn, a Flange inturned from off the end of said casing retaining one of said bearings and a spring within the casing engaging the other of said bearings for holding it in engagement with the ball and the ball in engagement with the bearing retained by the flange as aforesaid.

2. In a ball and socket joint, a ball member'comprising an attachable shank, a ball carried by it, a socket member comprising an attachable casing having a side opening in it through which the ball is inserted to become socketed .Within the casing, and' engaging the Other of( said bearings Jfor bearings oppostely arranged and movable l::.lding 'it in engagement with said ball Within the easing between which said ball and sald ball in engagement with that one 10 is socketed to turn, a flange inturned from of lsaid bearings. retained by the flange as Off the end of said casing for retaining aforesaid.

one of said bearings against outward disv placement and a spring Within the easing IRA D. SHAW. 

